SCRANTON - Two female informants have accused Scranton police officers of using their authority to intimidate them into performing inappropriate sexual favors.
Lackawanna County residents A. Doe and M. Doe sued the City of Scranton, Chief of Police Carl Graziano, officers Dina Albanesi Hammer, Thomas McDonald and John/Jane Doe 1-5 March 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Plaintiff A. Doe, who served as an informant after McDonald pulled her and her boyfriend over, made claims against the policeman.
“McDonald utilized plaintiff A. Doe’s addiction to drugs, vulnerability and the prospect of incarceration to his advantage wherein he would intentionally initiate contact with plaintiff A. Doe in order to satisfy his sexual desires,” the lawsuit alleged.
Plaintiff M. Doe, who made similar accusations against McDonald, sued after supervising officer Hammer questioned her about whether she had sexual interactions with McDonald while he was in the room. She said she lied because she was afraid of retaliation.
The city was also named as plaintiffs alleged the police officer’s conduct has been a pattern for years.
“City’s notice of a culture of abuse of female informants predated the sexual victimization of plaintiffs by defendant McDonald and their failure to intervene or take other corrective measures was the case of plaintiffs’ injuries,” the lawsuit reads.
The plaintiffs are suing for Monell Liability under 42 U.S.C. section 1983, substantive due process, failure to investigate, and failure to act. They are represented by Matthew Comerford of Scranton.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case number 3:20-cv-00490-MEM